MU softball takes split on first day of season

The No. 21 Missouri Tigers softball lost 2-0 to No. 15 Virginia Tech in the season opener Friday afternoon at the Florida International University Invitational at University Park in Miami, Fla.

Junior pitcher Stacy Delaney started for Missouri. She pitched six innings, striking out four and stranding eight Hokies on base. She allowed two earned runs, one each in the fourth and sixth innnings.

Delaney's counterpart, Virginia Tech pitcher Angela Tincher, struck out 15 Missouri batters in seven innings. Freshman centerfielder Rhea Taylor got Missouri's only two hits on the day.

"Angela (Tincher) was dominating today and that was really the story of the game," Missouri Head Coach Ehren Earleywine said in a press release. "We had an opportunity to score in the first inning with runners on first and second and no outs, but Angela managed to work her way out of the inning, which is something great pitchers are able to do. We were just overmatched for our first game."

In the night game of the tournament, Missouri rallied to beat the host team, Florida International, 6-4 behind strong performances by Junior shortstop Lindsey Ubrun at the plate and Sophomore pitcher Jana Hainey.

Ubrun hit a three-run homer in the bottom of the first to take the lead after FIU scored two runs in the top of the inning. In the circle, Hainey settled down and pitched seven innings for the complete game victory.

Taylor continued her strong play on the day, adding two more hits in the evening and gathering four stolen bases on the day.

Missouri's next game will be against Texas-Arlington at 11:30 a.m. Saturday in Miami.